Horseshoe.



Patented Oct. I4, |902.

v l d lifemjzys No. 7||,os-s.

W. B. MEBCK.

HORSESHGE (Application Sled Inn. 20, 1902.)

(N0 Nudel.)

5o engaging side with tongues 5, which engage UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

IVALTER B. MERCK, OF OCALA, FLORIDA.

HORSESHOE.

SPECIFICATION :forming part 0f Letters Patent No. 711,063, dated October 14, 1902.

Application filed January 20,1902.

To a/ZZ whom t my concern,.-

Be it known that I, WALTER'B. MERCE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ocala, in the county of Marion and State of Florida, have invented a new and useful Horseshoe, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improved horseshoe especially adapted for use in expanding the hoofs of horses that are aected by contracted heels; and it consists in a shoe having jaws at the heels thereof and a wedge between and engaging said jaws, whereby the heel ofthe shoe, and consequently the heel of the hoof, may be expanded gradually by tightening or driving in the wedge slightly from time to time; and my invention further consists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an inverted. perspective view of a horseshoe embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a similar view of a modified form of my invention. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of one side of the heel of the shoe, showing the pivoted jaw detached therefrom.

My improved horseshoe has its front or toe portion and the arms which form its sides formed integrally, as shown in Fig. 1. At the rear ends of the arms which form the heel of the shoe I provide jaws l on the inner sides of the arms, which jaws are adapted to be engaged by a wedge 2, inserted between the jaws, by which means the heel of the shoe may be widened or expanded from time to time to correspondingly expand the heel of the hoof by driving in the wedge. In the embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. l the jaws l are pivotally attached to the shoe. The latter has on the inner side of its heel portions or arms pairs of lugs a, which are engaged by corresponding lugs b, with which the jaws are provided, the said lugs a l) being provided with alined openings c, in which are itted pivotal screws d. The said jaws are provided in their opposing sides with longitudinal grooves 3, the faces of which are serrated, as at 4. The wedge 2, which is inser'tedY between the jaws, is provided on its Serial No. 90,555. (No model the said grooves 3 of the jaws, .and the said tongues are provided with serrated surfaces ,6, which are adapted to engage the serrated faces 4 of the grooves in the jaws, so that the wedge when driven in between the jaws to widen the heel or" the shoe Ais prevented from slipping rearwardly thereafter. In practice the wedge will be driven up a slight distance at suitable intervals of time to correspondingly expand theheel of the shoe, and hence in time a hoof the heel of which is contracted may be expanded and cured of its infirmity.

In the form of my invention shown in Fig. l the shoe is provided with heel-calks (i, which may be made of rubber or other suitable material.

In the form of my invention shown in Fig. 2 the jaws 1 are formed integrally with the shoe.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. Ahorseshoehavingalongitudinally-Inovable wedge at the heel thereof, to expand the heel of the shoe and thereby widen the heel of the hoof, substantially as described.

2. A horseshoe having oppositely faced jaws at the heel thereof and a longitudinallymovable wedge to engage said jaws and eX- pand the heel of the shoe, for the purpose set forth, substantially as described.

3. A horseshoe having pivoted jaws at the heel thereof, and a wedge between said jaws and engaging the same, substantially as described.

4. A horseshoe having jaws at the heel thereof and a wedge between said jaws, said jaws and wedge having mutually-engaging faces to lock the wedge in place, substantially as described.

5. A horseshoe having jaws at the heel thereof, and a wedge between said jaws, said jaws and wedge having'mutually-engaging serrated faces to lock the wedge in place, substantially as described.

6. A horseshoe having jaws at thereof and a wedge between said jaws, the engaging sides of said jaws and wedge being tongued and grooved, substantially as described.

the heel IOO 7. A hoof expanding shoe having arms my own I have hereto axed my signature in formed integrally with the boe or front por-I the presence of two Witnesses. tion, jaws on the inner si es of Ishe arms at f their real' ends, and a Wedge engaging the op- VALTER B' MERCK Y5 posing sides of the jaws to expand the heel Vitnesses:

of the shoe, substantially as described. 1 E. MORRIS,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as R. BULLOCK. 

